Random Thoughts On My Corpus Christi Trip

I'm going to be a little slow in getting out all of my material from my Corpus trip this weekend because I wanted to actually relax and enjoy myself and not spend the entire weekend working. Mission accomplished! I'll be posting interviews with Jake Buchanan and Mike Foltynewicz (and maybe one more) this week with the rest to come out next week so keep checking back. In the meantime, let me leave you with some random thoughts.

I love Whataburger Field. There is nothing better than sitting there on a warm evening with a cool breeze blowing off the water. I got chastised for saying this to a Corpus friend of mine, but I had a hard time even caring whether or not the Hooks won on Sunday evening (they didn't despite a valiant comeback effort) because the atmosphere was just so wonderful and relaxing.

Part of what makes Whataburger Field special is the staff there. Everyone seems to enjoy being there. Every day the staff gathers together in the stands about a half hour before the gates open and they end their meeting with a rousing, "Go Hooks" cheer. Most of the faces I saw there last year were back again this year. Two in particular stood out for me. Unfortunately I didn't get names, but one of them is a former season ticket holder who really, really loves the Hooks ... a lot.

Which brings me to Reid Ryan. If you've ever been to Whataburger Field, you'll know what I mean when I say that they are a class operation all the way. That is due in no small part to Ryan's influence. The staff members there speak with pride about Ryan's hiring as the Astros new President. Ryan sat with several of us  for a late half-inning during the Astros game yesterday. He was honest and forthright in answering our questions and didn't try to "spin" us. I found him to be a breath of fresh air. Kind of like the breeze that comes in from right field off the bay at Whataburger Field. He gives me hope.

One player that I really enjoyed watching was Jonathan Meyer. I'm not sure why, because I'd always heard good things about him, but for some reason he just didn't stand out for me when I saw him in Lancaster last year. This year was vastly different. His energy and enthusiasm on the field, his sterling defensive plays and the way he plays the game ... with joyful abandon ... all combine to make him one of my new favorite players (granted it's a very long and crowded list these days, which is a good thing). I particularly enjoyed watching him take BP. He doesn't so much hit the ball as try to assassinate it. He makes good, hard contact. I'm keeping a closer eye on him now.

Jonathan Meyer - May 2013

Photo by Jayne Hansen

And speaking of BP, I loved hearing the chatter behind the cage. In particular, hearing Erik Castro referred to as "Big Sexy" when he hit the ball hard and far (which was often) made me grin. And I was really, really surprised to hear players in their early 20's singing along to "Amie" by the Pure Prairie League when it was played on the oldies station being piped in during BP as it was a hit in 1974-75, long before any of these players were even born.

And I decided that I would never make a good paparazzi. I sometimes felt like a stalker with my camera. Frankly, I was stalking the elusive Ben Orloff. I had interviewed Ben and he really isn't very comfortable talking about himself. And he really seemed to be avoiding my camera as well. I never really did get any good pictures of him.

Ben Orloff - May 2013

Photo by Jayne Hansen

One final thought. The team I saw this year really reflects the looseness and camaraderie that I saw last year in Lancaster. I didn't see that on last year's team. And at the center of it all is George Springer. Springer is quiet off the field, but he is loose and funny and goofy and silly on the field. From doing handstands during field work to whooping and hollering in the dugout before the games, he brings an element to his game that may turn out to be as important as his on-field accomplishments. It's fun to watch.